New Wildcat Rec Center

The long-awaited opening of the Wildcat Recreation Center is finally here, just in time for both returning and new students to use the facilities.
The Associated Students of CSU, Chico will open the doors of the Wildcat Recreation Center (WREC) on August 17th; the first day students are able to move into the residence halls for the fall semester.
“We thought it was really important to give our new freshmen the opportunity to use the facility and have some fun before classes start on August 25th,” said Teresa Clements, assistant director–member services for the WREC.
The WREC has everything you would expect in a quality recreation center. The 130,000 square feet provides room for a weight floor with top-of the-line equipment, over 100 cardio machines, a 25-meter pool and spa, 35-foot climbing wall, three full-sized basketball courts, a multi-activity court, four group exercise rooms, locker rooms and a 1/8 mile elevated running track.
The center is a one-stop shop for all students’ exercise and recreation activities. There are fitness trainers available, as well as counseling for nutrition and fitness motivation. Recreational sports will be housed in the recreation center, providing intramural sports, such as soccer, volleyball and flag football. The center is also home to Adventure Outings, the campus outdoor adventure program that provides students with over 40 outdoor trips each semester.
“Never before has Chico State had any space dedicated solely to student recreation use,” Clements said. “The WREC gives our students another alternative when it comes to non-class related activities.”
CSU, Chico has worked to make the campus green and sustainable in every way possible and the WREC is no exception. The Associated Students are very proud of the work they’ve done to make this a sustainable project, Clements said. They have devoted many resources in trying to achieve “Silver Certification” in the area of “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” or LEED, which is a rating system, developed by the United State Green Building Council in 1998, to provide a group of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
The Wildcat Recreation Center is truly a showcase for sustainability. From the sensible use of natural resources, maximizing the use of regional and recycled products, to the renovation of the building site, the WREC serves as a model for green building.
Many CSU, Chico students have been anticipating using the recreation center since they first began building.
“I’m excited that they’re opening up a new gym for us to use,” said Gina Murillo, CSU, Chico student. “It will be nice having new equipment since the old gym was outdated.”
Murillo is most eager to use the pool. The university’s old pool was only open a few hours a day, so the center’s extended hours will bring convenience to students, she said.
The Wildcat Recreation Center will have their official grand opening on August 27th with music, food, giveaways and prizes. The center is open from 6 a.m. to midnight throughout the week and noon to 8 p.m. on weekends. This facility is open to all enrolled CSU, Chico students and paid for by a portion of their student fees. Staff and faculty will be able to purchase memberships at a cost of $200 per semester.
If you have any questions about the Wildcat Recreation Center call 530-898-4444 or e-mail their staff at wrecinfo@csuchico.edu.

By Kayla Cook